STILL WINTER, IF YOU WANT IT?

 

Northern corries from Windy Ridge, last Wednesday 

We've had some more snow and low temperatures on the Casirngorms and other Munros across the Highlands  last week. It's still lingering above 800m this weekend. Fresh snow on top of old snow. On Tuesday there was overnight snow, it continued into Wednesday. Up on the Cairngorm plateau you could have been fooled into thinking it was mid winter on Wednesday. Throughout the morning it snowed and a strong Northerly wind, coupled with poor visibility. A great winter day to be out. It actually cleared up by late afternoon but unfortunately we were down off the hill by 3pm.

The Cairn Gorm weather station

Rime ice

Poor visibility all morning and early afternoon

Fresh snow down to 800m

The cold Northerly winds have been with us all last week. No sign of any long spells of warm, Spring sunshine. If you're thinking of some last minute winter hillwalking then now is your chance.

I've been up photographing Mo Charaid for a couple of days last week. I've still had my 5 warm layers on, even at 700m. Wrap up warm, winter continues......Oh and don't forget to swot up on your navigation, you'll be needing that too.

Snow at 700m, Tuesday

AN UNSETTLED EARLY SPRING

 

My friend, still in his winter coat

April often brings much more settled and calmer weather across the Highlands of Scotland. It's one of my favourite months outwith winter. Unfortunately we haven't really had many amazing days of clear skies, no wind and fine views. When they have come they seem to only last for 24 hrs. In-between this we've had a fair amount of rain and the temperatures haven't settled down. Below freezing one day, next day into double figures. There has been a day or two of fresh snow on the Cairngorms, next day it's rain. There were a couple of days last week when the recorded wind speeds on top of Cairn Gorm exceeded 80 mph. It's been a case of making the best of any days while you can,if you can. Yesterday it felt like summer here in Strathspey, temperatures reaching 16 C.

Here's a selection of images from the last 10 days. 

My local Ospreys have returned

5th April, snow down to low levels

Winter returns

Within 24 hrs it's gone warm

Snow holes again

Nest rebuilding after a long winter

Somewhere between 1st - 7th April my local Osprey's have returned. This particular nest I've been observing for quite a few years now.

Thanks again to NatureScot for renewing my Schedule 1 Bird Photography Licence for yet another year. This enables me to photograph certain species near to nesting site. Specifically Osprey, Dotterel, Ring Ouzel, Ptarmigan and Snow Bunting. Part of the agreement on obtaining this licence is my recording of the above species and sending this report to NatureScot. Invaluable data for them to record how well, or not so well these birds are faring. Unfortunately they are all on the Red list of endangered species.

Mo Charaid enjoying the sunshine

The last few days I've been up photographing my wonderful friend (Mo Charaird). This amazing, placid mountain hare I have had the honour to sit beside and photograph for the 4th winter season now. That's almost his whole life ( mountain hares live on average 5-6 years). I only ever see him from around mid December until about early May. Where he goes between those periods is anyone's guess. I do secretly wish he would stick around for the summer. He's a remarkable character. He is still predominately sporting his white pelage. Only very slowly is he morphing into his beautiful ginger coloured coat. Most years he's not transformed until around May.

There's still snow on the mountains and definitely a wintery outlook next few days. More snow, more wind and below freezing temperatures. There's winter.....if you want it! Or for some folk, there's no choice :) 

EASTER IN THE HIGHLANDS, MEANS WINTER

 

Snowshoeing, Good Friday

The weather has been quite fine over the Easter period. We've had a top up of snow and the weather was settled from  Easter Friday until Easter Monday, perfect timing for the Easter weekend.  Now we seem to be in a run of grey, low cloud days but the temperatures up on the high Cairngorms are below freezing and we've got lots of fabulous snow here in The Cairngorms. Plenty of time to get that last minute winter skills course or a guided ascent of the big hills in this part of the Highlands. If you're just out of winter hibernation then maybe freshen up on some Navigation? I run navigation courses throughout the year.

I've had a good variety of guided trips during the Easter holiday period.

Friday I was running a snowshoeing day for Monica & Michael. They only booked 3 days prior to their chosen day out with me. It was a glorious day with very little breeze, lots of snow down to 800m and some fabulous  sunny spells, much better than all the forecasts indicated. We had the snowshoes on our feet for 90% of the day. It was also one of the very few days this winter when I didn't have my waterproofs on at any point during the day!

Great conditions for snowshoeing

Lunch at the finest viewpoint in the Cairngorms

Snowshoes on virtually all day

Plenty of blue skies and sun

Excellent snow-cover across the plateau

On Saturday I was guiding Mark on a mountain hare photography workshop. The weather in the middle of the day was fine, then a couple of big downpours in the afternoon. We had a couple of great sightings. Most of the hares are still well and truly in their winter pelage. More snow to come tomorrow so still time to get some winter images, with the hares still predominately white and hopefully some snowy backgrounds.

Still white and still some snow, even at 700m

Snow showers over the Cairngorms

On Sunday and into Monday I was running an intro to wild camping. What better area to head to than the fabulous Fisherfield Forest. A stunning, bright and sunny Sunday with warm temperatures at lower altitudes. Nice to be wearing summer lightweight boots as we were only walking up to about 400m so no snow around. Still it was a chilly evening and morning. 

Great camspot

View from the kitchen

Evening sunset over Slioch

Sunset behind Slioch

Sunset on the last day of March

The skies were clear at first light on the 1st April but the cloud was thickening out to the East and a dull day from 10am onwards. We managed to see the fabulous Belt of Venus at dawn.

Belt of Venus behind A' Mhaighdean

Cloud starting to envelop Slioch by 8am

On Tuesday I had the pleasure to take the lovely Kuradagi family out into the snowy Cairngorms. This was the very first time they had all stepped on snow and their first visit to Scotland. We covered many essential winter skills such as Snow Angels, building snowmen, throwing snowballs accurately, digging snowholes and rolling down snow. 

The Kuradagi family, first steps in snow

Making snowholes, great fun at 6 years of age, or 60 years of age!

Snow above 800m in Coire an t-Sneachda

Whilst it's great fun in easy angles snow just 1 hour from the carpark, it is very different high up on the mountains. Have you got the skills for winter? Last chance before Spring really arrives at the beginning of May. Or maybe not, maybe winter will linger on and on :)